Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 07/21/2008 10:34 AM | National Indonesian children have called on the government to immediately set up a special ministry tasked with improving child welfare. Some 330 children from the country's 33 provinces gathered in Bogor to attend the six-day national congress on children's welfare ahead of National Children's Day, which falls on July 23. "This year's congress highlights the urgency for the establishment of a child affairs ministry, as suggested by the child participants three years ago," National Commission for Child Protection Chairman Seto Mulyadi told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. "The idea of establishing a special ministry for children came purely from the children themselves," he added. The participating children, aged between 12 and 18, ranged from street children to top-grade students. At the gathering, they exchanged ideas on what they would recommend to the government, and identified with one another's problems. Seto said the children had been actively participating in the congress since Saturday, and although they were accompanied by parents and officials, the adults acted as spectators. "According to them (the officials), the government's focus on child welfare has been divided into several ministries all this time, meaning that efforts have not been integrated," he said. He said for example the Social Affairs Ministry aided street children and that children's health and education were the responsibility of the Health Ministry and the Education Ministry. He said the children expected a single dedicated ministry would be able to effectively ensure their rights, including by addressing child abuse and exploitation. He said the commission had received 1,098 child abuse reports in the first semester of the year, a total of 1,700 cases in 2007 and 1,100 cases in 2006. "Of those cases, only 5 percent were brought to court," Seto said. He also said television shows were guilty of exploiting children. "In many cases, parents see their children's talents as opportunities to generate money," he said, citing as examples soap operas, singing contests and religious shows. "Television producers have financially benefited from children's shows, which have achieved high ratings and attracted many sponsors and advertisements. "The media industry has exploited children, telling them to dress in adults' costumes, wear make-up and sing adult songs." He said those children were forced to grow up too fast and experience the stressful routines of adult life. "Their new identities as child stars would limit their freedom and change their behaviors. They could become arrogant and temperamental. This would affect their communication with others," he said. The children will also discuss "child freedom" during the congress, he said, adding that there was scope for the children to launch a national anti-cruelty to children campaign. "Their final statement will be addressed to the government, parents, teachers and others, including the media industry," Seto said, adding that the address would also be made in front of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as part of the commemoration of National Children's Day.

Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 07/06/2008 11:37 AM | Headlines Celebratory spirit was in the air as some 90 Indonesian child writers broke a silence on Saturday, voicing their demands and marking a new page in the book industry's history. Innocently creative, the seven to 13 years old child authors expressed their hopes during the first Child Writers Conference held here, calling on parents, teachers and the government to recognize and appreciate their talents, as well as to support their activities. The children also launched the Indonesian Child Writers organization at the conference, which was initiated by local book publisher Mizan. "We are asking adults to not underestimate our talents," nine-year-old Rara read out, representing her friends. The child authors also urged the government to scrap book taxes, so that books could be more affordable for everyone. As for publishers, "Please offer us a better royalty," Rara said, to laughter and cheers from the audience. The young writers demanded that teachers and parents provide them with the freedom to write and asked them to avoid the use of force in writing activities. "Never ask us to write stories with lame topics like 'my family', 'my holiday experience' or 'my environment' ... that's so boring. Teachers should allow us to explore our own ideas," famous young writer Sri Izzati said during a brainstorming session at the conference. Another famous young writer, Abdurrahman Faiz, said teachers often set time limits, which causes children to perceive writing as a pressured, rather than enjoyable, activity. "In many cases, teachers have reduced writing activities to assignments, telling us to write a story in only 2 hours. That surely kills our creativity," said Faiz, who has written several best sellers. The writers also reminded their parents not to be too ambitious in trying to make their children successful authors. Many of the writers said they often felt disappointed when editors cut their words or when finding illustrations of their books were far different from what they had imagined. Fan Fan F. Darmawan of Mizan said while other publishers might be skeptical about child writer projects, he had proven that supporting child writers was a promising business. According to Mizan, it has published 33 books written by child authors with each title selling up to 5,000 copies on average. Izzati's masterpiece Two of me, for example, has reached sales of 12,000 copies since its first printing in 2006. Meanwhile, Faiz has booked 11,000 copies in sales, one year after he launched his book titled Untuk bunda untuk dunia (To mother, to the world). Writer Ramya has sold 1,000 copies of her book titled My piano, my best friend, only one month after it was launched. Fan Fan said several campaigns to other cities across the country would follow the conference. "In December, a summit meeting will be held to officially launch this movement," he said. Working with his colleagues in Mizan, Fan Fan aimed to promote child writers and help them win recognition. He called on other publishers to support children's creativity by publishing their stories.

Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 04/28/2008 11:42 AM | National People born with disorders such as autism and Down syndrome still have good career opportunities, a psychologist said Saturday. Child expert Diennayarti Tjokrosuprihatono from the University of Indonesia said it was time people took a positive view of autism and Down syndrome. "People should shine a positive light on what has traditionally been looked at as a disability and convert it into an ability," she said during a discussion about child development. Experts such as Diennayarti believe some characteristics of autism and Down syndrome are suited to certain professions. "Because of their meticulous attention to detail, autistic people have good opportunities for careers in accountancy, bookkeeping and computer programming. As all they think about is their own world, autistic people are also suited to jobs in scientific research," Diennayarti said. People with Down syndrome also have suitable traits for promising jobs. "People with Down syndrome have a loving and affectionate nature. They bond with others easily, even with people they don't really know. "That's why nowadays many of them are hired as nannies or caretakers in social institutions," Diennayarti said. She said the fact some had low IQs did not mean they could not contribute to society. "Don't look at what they can't do -- look at what they can do. The key is to find and support what kind of training they need to build such careers," she said. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder. This disorder disrupts the normal functioning of the brain, affecting social interaction and communication skills. People with autism typically display difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction and recreational activities and games. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, which leads to the impairment of sufferers' physical and intellectual development. Unlike autism, Down syndrome is easily recognized in babies from their physical appearance. To help prevent these conditions in their children, child specialist Atilla Dewanti, also at the discussion, urged mothers to monitor their pregnancy carefully. "Even two weeks after conception, the fetus' brain and nervous system have started to develop," she said. "Infant brain development cannot be repeated. Once it is interrupted, it will affect the baby's other development, and could lead to disorders." Atilla said the brain developed fastest during the period from two months before birth to four years afterward. "During this 'golden period', parents should ensure their babies receive adequate nutrition, such as breast milk or formula milk, and should stimulate the babies with various activities, such as talking, playing or just hugging," she said.